New-York tribune., 1887-12-20
IRVING "DR. PRIMROSE"
OLIVIA" PLAYED IN PHILADELPHIA. A.
ELLEN TERRY IN THE TITLE ROLE OF Mr.. wILLs's
PLAY-GOI psMITH's PICTURES OF Eng
IISH LEE MADE

reprrscnted. Theatrical taste here IS refined and
fastldlous. Admiration IS not readily aroused and 1t
seldom takes the form of enthusiasm To night was
whole hearted and vigorous After the sublcties and
complexities of Mcphsophcles' anf the metaphysle-
al canons that are involved In the love story of Faust
and Margaret the sweet pastoral domestic play OF
"OIlvia" as It is presented by Henry Irving. came
upon the public as delightful surprise of simplicity
Mr Irving adopted The Vicar Of WlkeGeld' into his
rcpertory in May, 1883, at the London Lyccum The
are and this his first peri mmance OF 1t In Amerl-
ca 1t is totally distinct from his accustomed vein,
which +, indie atcd by Matthias" Louis Dubosc"
Aram7 and Hamlet" But 1t VIII take
an equal rank with them, and 1t shows,
beyond all question, that the springs
of h, IN, plration freely from the fountain VI
human tenderness as from the mysterious uepths oi
weird and morbid passion the heights OF haunted
and gloomy Imagination. An original ana powerful
ndlvduay displaying itself In tho field of art always
creates factions and causes controversy DIT 'NI"S
from the first has been an example of this truth, ana
never more so than while he play cd Mehls'opheIe''
But probably there Will be no dscord of Judgment as
TO his acting Of 4" Dr. Primrose Those observers
who start With the mistake of expecting while 'IaS
SIC novel + taken dramatic bass, that the Play
Will reproduce the novel and exactly correspond with
IT, must suffer disappointment. Mr. Wits ID
OLIVIA" has presented only an episode OF the tory'
The play shows tho Vicar In his happy home the
household and his Ielcc the fathers rescue Of the
child and bright reunion Of parted friends at last
II contains pictures which arc poems and 'hatacteis,
which, II not clpse to the originals, only differ from
them In Icing better. because moro Ideal
I'm substance and moro compact In form.
Among all the contrasts that human life presents
none is more touching than that Of vrtHous cha,ened
age and eagcr, passionate youth. Dr. Primrose
aud his daughter olivia they arc Imp"rsonaed 10y
H,nry Irving and Ellen Terry offer most impressi'e
example Of this contrast Mr. Irving, Ideal Of the
Vrar * not the sturdy and humorous rustic clergy
man Of Golisu,hs novel but Is CHER tyre in rho
same ycn OF the pastoral genilcncss and tender be-
nl,uty Of that hom"lr and Ioyahle character.
Vlruc as embodied 90 the drama, Is commonly in,ipd
and often tlrcsomo
Mr. irving makes q" Dr. Primrose an emblem
~ goodness, but he gives him passion,
aui by that means he makes him vigorous
and pquaut Til" embodiment ha" deep
background. .hc man IS felt to bc the result OF long
life Of putty. Ludle,s AMI yell -'uh. Like Victor
uusos L.>hor Maurice this Dr Primrose reveals his
soul of love ami peace In the swcct canGor Of his
aspect, ia hs mild dcn.,ano. In is perfect simplicity
Iut Mr. living makes him intensely and pais.onHcS
hruau rl "a also iuyr, l1s um win Az cccie'a'tcai
dignity rlt Woiil toe Au,trlc "ete II not a'''cA'ed
with a .cupcrlucu, so sweet AND manner so flll Of
exquisite grace. Among his Characteristic qualities
e spectator perceive, love 81 nature ton' oi super
.tro, ttc Gncst ,cusc ot honor and prpreiy In the
III. f.l Ian.
'''''' '' '.' ,,..,. ,.',- t,r,t,.,,
a., ,.,,. .,.,r.on,l
,. ..'..,.,.,,,
Nf OBJ I"' i'..' '...''' ''.' ' ~
Ot fr-.EF IC.l sentiment Aly 10 llN i' -i""'
...-,..f,.rt A.. f.,.r- ..u..los A man VhO has
lived ife % ,cu,.buty and Imagination; Who has
been young and who knows what It means 10 love
Co.,, H. .I.,.l ,..,i ft, world a,I aware Of the
W .. ...,,...
'-.- 'i MS It'''. Al i"i'" Anu 'i ".' w" u
ILr NrAr played ly Llm h'romc' even iofhIdA'4c
t f serious cl.I, iu h. rNrnl'nnce Above all this
, , . .... ,,t.. ii..,, yri,rv ,,r ,,,h,rs
'' '''i'' "''" '" s,,,, ,
aud 'rif'lhl} i'i N.' 'i''irif' u'"kh''I 'lN'A
T.rd, s.llctle flr tlf dear child is IN every glance
, ,I. .., ,.,f .,..y ,,,.e o, l,. vnic. The rrear
'. ' W
points = Nr lN'nr'' performance are hi' re
.,....,.u - ~u.' l'.f word, when told
. .......~ r, H. t.o., I,s,,fr
N.' '"'' "'' "''' '''''' pau
i.. u..r.lr., l1.l. aul DIS attempt 10 rebulc
..,,. O., I'D ....f...t v.i.u ~, la, bo h,s
' W " ' |
i.IrI Arr au ti'Nli iIAi cHd' IN ms tdhlns heF
60 d., n..rt.r ne roic beautiful u an M, has
- , ,.... ...., ,i. .,.... aud ,l.i. + ,be su
if"rr u.'gt irtaH. ne substance oi the Hay i the
f..' Affection NJ flf',r and daughter, which her,
&c., l, a., IT,, a, ,ho.. H.,
I'-'' ' "'.' ''''' +'', i'''', - ''0 ""'
have "a let.dtl Der nature through her a'iIh- migh
We'll Imagine, :, perfection In Olivia Tho di>tr
l.t.n .f fle ,lol,e; inst before the nlclt ca.,ea
ic,., la .nnyrye, TIE partlu. from TIE failcr had
,.,fi D.. ,,tt-a TO-. ,,,.r, ,i.. ..- .Nt.f.